Federal government warns of approaching storms
Published: Saturday, Jul 6th 2024, 15:10
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The federal government warned of heavy thunderstorms and intense continuous rain on Saturday. The Federal Office of Meteorology MeteoSwiss expected heavy precipitation, particularly in western Valais, Vaud, southern Ticino and parts of Graubünden.
The federal government raised the risk level for rain to warning level 3, which according to the natural hazards portal means that local flooding is possible. Landslides may also occur on steep slopes.
The Federal Office of Meteorology advised people to avoid riverside areas. Cellars and basements should not be entered if there is a risk of flooding. Depending on the area, the danger applies from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning.
In Ticino, the Misox and other parts of Graubünden such as the Upper Engadine, experts were expecting up to 130 liters of rain per square meter. Up to 80 liters were expected in the Upper Engadine.
According to the weather radar of the Meteonews weather service, 120 liters per square meter fell within 24 hours during the devastating storm in Misox in mid-June. In the upper Maggia Valley at the end of June, rainfall of 200 liters per square meter was measured.
Valais governing body also warns
Due to the expected rainfall on Saturday afternoon, the canton of Valais has switched from the pre-warning level to the warning level. The management body of the canton of Valais thus warned of renewed landslides, flooding and debris flows. The warning level applies to the Rhone and its tributaries.
The forecasts indicate that the amount of precipitation in Valais this weekend will not be as high as last weekend. Nevertheless, high precipitation totals are possible due to local thunderstorms, according to a statement from the Valais State Chancellery on Saturday morning.
The cantonal management body advised the population to stay away from watercourses, restrict travel and not to park on bridges or on the banks of bodies of water.
Thunderstorms and snowmelt
In addition to the rain warnings, MeteoSwiss also issued level 3 thunderstorm warnings for some regions. In the area from the Bernese Aare valley in the west along the foothills of the Alps to Lake Constance in the northeast, thunderstorms with squalls and heavy precipitation are possible. This will happen between Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.
There is also still a high risk of flooding (danger level 4) on Lake Constance. Although the water level has continued to fall since yesterday, the predicted precipitation and snowmelt, in combination with the already saturated ground, could lead to a rapid rise in water levels. This was stated by the federal government in the natural hazard bulletin.
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